Google's AI told people Flock cameras were full of gold. They weren't.

Google's AI Overviews once provided users with incorrect information about Flock's AI-powered license plate cameras being filled with gold and copper. This occurred after online jokes suggested these cameras contained valuable metals. The AI tool took the joke literally and started providing answers such as "a Flock safety camera contains about 1 to 5 grams of gold used in its internal circuit boards and wiring, plus between two and 23 pounds of copper."

However, these figures were not accurate and did not reflect the actual weight of the cameras. After the discrepancy was pointed out, Google updated its AI answer to clarify that the cameras contain only trace amounts of gold in their standard electronic circuit boards, similar to most small electronics. The incident highlights how quickly AI tools can transform a joke into seemingly factual information.